Morrow to start Jays' Grapefruit League opener against Tigers

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Associated Press2/19/2013 1:42:07 PM

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DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Manager John Gibbons offered more proof of the Blue Jays' all-in approach to this season Tuesday, saying the team's final squad will be determined by talent rather than any roster red tape.

At times, some roster choices are made with an eye on whether a player has any options left, meaning he can be on the 40-man roster but move between the major and minor leagues without being placed on waivers. A team might elect to keep such a player rather than risk losing him to another team by sending him down.

According to mlb.com, a player is assigned three options as a rostered player. Each year, when a player who is on the roster gets sent to the minor leagues for a stint of more than 20 days, it counts as an option.

Gibbons says those who perform will stick with the big club. Of course, given Toronto's off-season acquisitions, there aren't too many roster questions to answer in pre-season.

"It's an important year for us," Gibbons told reporters. "So we're going to go with the best team. ... In the past or it's a year where you don't know for sure, you're not as optimistic, you might want to try to hold onto some guys because they're out of options.

"This year we've got to go with the best team. I think he (GM Alex Anthopoulos) agrees with that, so some of those guys have got to perform."